Does doubt invade thy bosom from this subtle theme? Think! When was colouredness exempt from doubt extreme? 225 The wonder is how colour rose from hueless source; How colour, huelessness, in ceaseless warfare course!
The origin of oil is water. This is known. Then why are oil and water foes, as may be shown? From water oil’s created by mysterious power; ’Gainst water why does oil rise up, and war, each hour? The rose springs from a thorn; thorns, from the rose. In open warfare are these two. Why? What suppose? Or is this seeming warfare all a cunning sham, Like donkey-dealers’ wordy strife, some dupe to flam? 230 ’Tis neither this nor that. ’Tis puzzle for the wise. The treasure’s to be sought; the ruin’s ’fore our eyes.[296] That which thou deemest the treasure’s naught but vanity. By deeming it a treasure, makest thou it to flee. Thy deemings and thy thoughts build up a pile too fair; For treasure never lurks where buildings crown the air. “_To edify_” means: “_Being_, _warfare eke_, _to sow_.” Nonentity is shamed with entity’s false show! Not entity ’tis calls for aid. It is the void For restitution asks,--encroachments would avoid! 235 Think not ’tis thou wouldst flee non-entity’s fell grip; Nonentity encroachment dreads from thy short trip. Apparently, it thee invites unto its breast; But really, it repels; club-like is its protest. Know then, dear friend, that Pharaoh’s shrink from Moses’ call Was, really, like a wrong shoe on one’s foot. That’s all.
Opinions are agreed ’mongst philosophic folk: “The sky’s an eggshell; in it lies this globe, as yolk.”
A questioner once asked: “How rests this little ball Within the circumambient spheres, without a fall? 240 ’Tis like a lamp hung up to vault of high-pitched dome; It never sinks below, nor soars above its home.”
To him one wise man answered: “By attraction’s force, On all sides equal poised, it’s kept from all divorce. Just as an iron ball would centrally be hung, If loadstone vault there were to hold it freely swung.”
A caviller objected: “How should heaven’s pure vault, Attracting to itself, this vile black ball exalt? Say rather it repels with equal force all round. The earth thus rests amidst air’s tides that hold it bound.” 245